Kate Reinders Injured In Wicked

Chicago, IL: Kate Reinders, who plays Glinda in the Chicago production of Wicked, was injured during a recent performance. A spokesperson confirmed the injury to Playbill Online saying that she broke a small bone in her foot during the song “Popular.” She will be out of the production for a few weeks, but it is not expected for her to be out for any prolonged period.

Glinda understudy, Sarah Jane Everman, will go on until Reinders is ready to return.

The female stars of Wicked have been plagued with injuries during the entire life of the musical. Original Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth, suffered a neck injury during the show’s tryout in San Francisco and was forced to wear a neck brace at times. Original Elphaba, Idina Menzel, broke a rib during her final performances, and Stephanie J. Block, Elphaba in the touring company, suffered a back injury that has caused her to miss many performances in Toronto and the entire San Francisco stop.

The Chicago production of Wicked stars Ana Gasteyer as Elphaba, Kate Reinders as Glinda, Rondi Reed as Madame Morrible, Gene Weygandt as The Wizard, Kristoffer Cusick as Fiyero, Heidi Kettenring as Nessa Rose, Telly Leung as Boq, and Steven Skybell as Dr. Dillamond.

Wicked currently plays The Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theater in Chicago.

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch is Wicked.